One of my favorite books of all times. The narrative runs parallel in terms of POV - the boy and the girl. It follows them throughout their journey living in an underground society built as a result of human's destruction of the earth. I'll admit I actually watched the movie before reading the book, but once I got around to it, I found that DuPrau's writing created a world even the movie could not (sounds kind of cliche, but it's true! This book is so well-written - not too confusing, but also engaging enough to where I feel it could appeal to all age-ranges.) I first read this book when I was sixteen, and years later, it remains my favorite. I can see it appealing to young-adults and middle-grade readers as well (and who knows, I can also see adults liking it very much). All around an interesting book with a plot that is both other-worldly and realistic at the same time. Cannot praise it enough.